EDIT: BTW, this is just my response to Mark's point, I'm not saying that I'm against the proposal...

The F18 is NOT the ultimate answer to saving the events or class. Division 12 proved that several years ago. Bringing in high-end boats has the unintended consquence of taking up-and-coming, and/or advanced sailors off of existing cats.

That is fine, unless new blood is not coming in; in which case, this just delays the inevitable.

Of course, it could also accelerate it, if the classes which give up sailors to the new boats shrink to the point that the remaining sailors don't show up anymore. Ask anyone sailing a TheMightyHobie18, H20 or H21 that went from 5-8 boats at regattas to 3 or less.

EDIT: I know, the Tiger class in and of itself can have the same effect. My point is, the real answer is NEW SAILORS, not newer, faster boats. To get that, you typically need to start with simpler boats (H16, etc.).

We need more Wave and H16 sailors.

Mike